WO2021018775A1

WO2021018775A1 - Captive screw closure

Info

Publication number: WO2021018775A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/070968
Authority: WO
Inventors: Günter Krautkrämer
Original assignee: Bericap Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2019-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-24
Publication date: 2021-02-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure consisting of a screw cap (10) and a cylindrical continuation (9) which comprises a tamper-evident band (3) which can be locked on a container neck via locking elements, the screw cap (10) having at least one cylindrical cap curved face (2) with an internal thread (4), the cylindrical continuation (9) being partially connected to the lower edge of the cap curved face (2) along easily breakable breaking lines (13, 14), and the tamper-evident band (3) remaining connected non-detachably to the cap curved face (2) via retaining strips (15, 16) after breaking along the breaking lines. According to the invention, the retaining strips (15, 16) are formed by two breaking lines (13, 14) of the cylindrical continuation, which are each interrupted in the circumferential direction by at least one dividing piece and run at an axial distance from each other, at least in the region where they partially overlap in the circumferential direction, and alternately bridge the dividing piece (11, 12) of the other breaking line (14, running round) in the circumferential direction, wherein the upper dividing piece (11) interrupting the upper breaking line (13) forms a permanent axial extension of the cap curved face (2), which has, on its outside at a distance from its free lower edge, a radially outwardly pointing protrusion (11e), wherein, after the screw cap has been unscrewed, after the lines of weakness (13, 14) have been broken as a result, and after the screw cap has been folded over about a pivot axis which runs parallel to a tangent to the lower edge (11a) of the dividing piece (11), the protrusion (11e) assumes an axial position, in relation to the axis of the tamper-evident band, at a distance of at least 0.1 to 0.8 mm above the locking elements.

Description

Captive screw cap

The present invention relates to a captive closure with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such a closure consists of a screw cap and a cylindrical extension which includes a tamper-evident band. The tamper-evident band as part of the cylindrical extension can be locked via locking elements on a container neck, specifically on the so-called "Pilferproofring" of the container neck, the screw cap having at least one cylindrical cap shell with an internal thread, and the cylindrical extension partly along easily tearable tear lines with the lower edge of the Cap jacket is connected. Even after the screw cap has been unscrewed from a container neck and the resulting tear lines have been severed and thus the extension has been partially severed, the guarantee strip locked on the container neck is permanently connected to the cap shell of the screw cap via at least one or more retaining straps.

The permanent connection of the guarantee band with the screw cap is intended to ensure that a user does not throw away the cap after emptying the container in question, but that when the container, for example a beverage bottle, is returned, the closure is returned to the recycling system via a deposit system together with the container becomes.

In the following description, the terms “top”, “bottom” and “(radially) outside” or “inside” are used as they result from the arrangement and orientation in the closed state on the neck of an upright bottle. The actual alignment and orientation of individual elements of the screw cap can, however, change if the cap is folded over after the closure has been opened. A lower surface pointing downwards in the closed state is still referred to as a “lower surface” if it points upwards in the open state due to the screw cap being folded over.

The cylindrical cap shell, its internal thread and the cylindrical extension define a common closure axis in the closed state.

With regard to practical use, it should above all be avoided that after opening the screw cap held on the container neck, the pouring process or drinking from the container opening bothers. As a further aspect, the material consumption for producing the closure should also remain low.

The invention also relates to the combination of such a closure with a suitable container or container neck.

All containers, preferably plastic containers, which have an approximately cylindrical container neck with a matching external thread, onto which the screw cap with its internal thread can be screwed, come into consideration as containers. In particular, beverage bottles come into consideration here as a container.

Further, comprehensive information on the relevant state of the art can be found in the priority applications PCT / EP2019 / 080338, DE 10 2018 128 886, PCT / EP2019 / 081235, DE 20 2020 100 758 and DE 10 2020 104 703.

The present invention is based on a variant of the stabilization of a large opening angle of the screw cap unscrewed from a container neck, which has not yet been described and which is folded over after loosening the thread engagement so that the axis of the screw cap or the screw cap thread initially coincides with the axis of the container neck is folded over by more than 120 °, preferably by more than 140 ° and for example up to close to 160 ° relative to the axis of the container neck. The axis of the tamper-evident band still coincides with the axis of the container neck. The screw cap according to the invention remains in this wide open position after opening and folding over, regardless of movements and the orientation of the container.

For the stabilization of the screw cap in such a non-disturbing position, folded as far as possible and also sufficiently distant from the container opening, it is proposed according to the invention that the retaining straps are formed by two tear lines of the cylindrical extension interrupted in the circumferential direction by at least one separating web, which at least there where they partially overlap one another in the circumferential direction, run at an axial distance from one another, and which alternately bridge the separating web of the other tear line in the circumferential direction, wherein the upper separating web interrupting the upper tear line forms a permanent axial extension of the cap shell, and the upper separating web on its Outside, at a distance from its free lower edge, has a radially outwardly pointing projection, the projection after unscrewing the screw cap, the associated tearing of the lines of weakness and after folding the screw bkappe about a pivot axis, which runs parallel to a tangent to the lower edge of the separating web, assumes an axial position with respect to the axis of the guarantee strip, which is a distance of at least 0.1 to 0.8 mm above the locking elements. The position of the protrusion is defined by the position of the lower outer edge of the protrusion (which is on top in the folded state).

In other words, after the tear lines have been separated, the screw cap can be folded over in relation to a tamper-evident band which is fixed in the starting position and which consists of the stationary part of the cylindrical extension (which remains fixed on the pilferproof ring of a container neck during use) and the projection of the upper separating web in move a position between 0.1 and 0.8 mm above the engagement surface of the locking element or elements.

If the tamper-evident band is attached to a container neck, the axial distance between the latching elements and the projection on the separating web of the folded screw cap can be limited to 0.1 to 0.5, in particular 0.1 to 0.3 mm

In this open state, the retaining straps and the upper separating web lie essentially in the same axial area that they occupied before the screw cap was folded over.

When the closure is opened, the retaining straps come under tensile stress which is essential for the function of the closure according to the invention and which is influenced by various parameters, as will be explained below.

First, when the screw cap thread is loosened or unscrewed, the screw cap is removed from the thread of the container neck and, during the rotation, axially from the part of the cylindrical extension which forms the guarantee strip, in accordance with the thread pitch. The tear lines, via which the guarantee strip and screw cap were connected, tear open, so that the retaining straps are formed between the overlapping sections of the two tear lines that separate. At the same time, the upper separating web is also separated from the section of the guarantee strip that remains underneath and is moved axially upwards with the screw cap. The upper separating web then forms a short axial extension of the cap shell in the area where the upper tear line is interrupted by the separating web. The lower separating web forms part of the tamper-evident band and defines an upper edge of the same.

At the ends of the separating webs, the retaining straps set in the circumferential direction, which, at least when the tear lines are formed along parallel and at a fixed axial distance and running in the circumferential direction, exactly have the axial width that is also measured in the axial direction Corresponds to the height of the upper and lower dividers. The lower edge of the cap shell is axially abgeho ben in the unscrewed state of the screw cap together with the upper separating web from the stationary remaining tamper-evident band, the extent of this axial displacement through the thread pitch and the pressure angle of the screw cap thread to be measured in the circumferential direction with the container neck is determined. The lower separating web remains with a circumferential lower section of the cylindrical extension as a guarantee strip on the container neck. Latching elements on the inside of the guarantee band engage behind a pilferproof ring on the container neck and secure the guarantee band on the container neck

In this position, in which the screw cap is initially still on the container neck, but is no longer in thread engagement with the container neck, the screw cap can be lifted on the side opposite the upper separating web and folded over towards the side of the upper separating bar. The upper separating web is offset axially upwards by the amount of the thread height compared to the lower separating web and the guarantee band. A pivot axis for a flipping or pivoting movement of the screw cap is defined by the lower edge of the upper separating web or an axis running parallel to a circumferential rod through the upper separating web, initially where the separating web engages with the outside of the container neck occurs. The retaining straps, each of which has one end connected to the lower separator and the other end to the upper separator, are twisted when the screw cap is folded over.

Furthermore, the upper separating web forms a partially cylindrical extension of the screw cap. If this is folded over together with the separator, the ends of the separator move radially outwards in relation to the axis of the guarantee strip (which corresponds to the original closure axis) and thus stretch the retaining straps.

The straps are already put under tension due to their twisting and the relative axial displacement of their ends. This tension is increased when the cap is folded down. The retaining straps therefore exert a tensile force in the direction of the bottle neck on the screw cap while it is being folded over and then afterwards.

Accordingly, when moving the separating web and its projection over the outer edge of a pilferproof ring, a maximum of the elastic tension of the retaining straps has to be overcome until the projection engages behind the pilferproof ring. A section of the separating web below the projection rests against the outer edge of the pilfer proof ring after the projection has snapped into place below the pilferproof ring. The projection and the section of the separating web below the projection thus together form a fold similar to that of a window frame, in which - when the screw cap is folded down - the lower outer edge of the pilferproof ring is received. The upper separating web is then in an axial position largely below the pilfer proof ring and this essentially also applies to the retaining straps which connect the ends of the upper and lower separating webs to one another.

The ends of the lower and upper separators connected by the straps take on a maximum distance from each other during the folding and axial displacement of the screw cap, which also causes a maximum in the tension of the straps. After crossing an intermediate position, which can be at a flip angle of about 130 °, this distance decreases again, especially when the retaining straps and separators are then approximately at the same axial height as they are in the case of an unopened closure . The flipping movement of the screw cap thus takes place over a dead point, the screw cap has the tendency to move back into the closed position due to the tensile force of the straps before reaching the dead point, while it has a tendency to move into the next after exceeding the dead center to move the open position.

The screw cap can be pressed axially downwards on the container neck while it is being folded over, so that the separating web, which is initially moved upwards with the screw cap, does not slide up along the container neck or remains in the position loosened from the thread above a pilferproof ring. Instead, during or after the flap of the cap, the separating web or its then possibly inwardly pointing protrusion slides downwards on the upper flank of the pilfer proof ring, passes the outer edge of the pilfer proof ring and finally engages the lower flank of a pilfer proof ring or is below it Pilfer proof ring pressed. Depending on the positioning of the separating web and the projection during the folding process, the projection, which in the meantime points axially downwards at a folding angle of about 90 °, could be moved past the outer edge of a pilferproof ring and then only pivot radially inward immediately below the pilferproof ring when the screw cap was pivoted further .

Even if the tear lines are separated in the case of an insulated closure and the axis of the screw cap is folded over by approx. 150 ° - 160 ° with respect to the axis of the guarantee strip, for example, the projection lies in a predominantly radially inward position at an axial height between the locking elements and the upper edge of the tamper-evident band. “Axial” refers to the axis of the tamper-evident band, which maintains the orientation of the closure axis as it existed before the screw cap was folded over.

The upper edge of the tamper-evident band is defined by the lower separating web and, with a closure, which is attached to a container neck, lies at the level of the pilferproof ring and thus above the locking elements of the guarantee strip, which in turn lie below the pilfer proof ring. The latter have a slight play in relation to the lower flank of the pilferproof ring in order to facilitate the application of the closure to a bottle neck.

Since the projection is to engage behind the pilferproof ring of the container neck after the screw cap has been folded down and after moving downwards along the outside of a bottle neck, the projection or its lower engagement surface is accordingly located axially between the locking elements and the upper edge of the tamper-evident band. The projection can assume this position even in the isolated state if it is not attached to a bottle neck, in which case the projection would, however, have no function.

The upper separating web and the retaining straps are not regarded as part of the guarantee band in this context, since they are connected to the guarantee band, but are also movable with respect to this.

When the projection slides over the outer edge of a pilferproof ring and finally passes it, the tension in the retaining straps causes the lower part of the separating web, which is still below (in the folded-down state, above) the projection to hit the outer edge of the pilferproof ring. Snapping sound.

Thereafter, the projection is essentially slightly above the axial height of the locking elements of the guarantee band, which are also below the pilferproof ring and, in the event of an axial upward movement of the guarantee band, engage the lower flank of the pilferproof ring.

The tension in the straps should remain in the elastic range even during a folding process, and is otherwise determined by the twist and the length of the straps and the length of the upper separating web in the circumferential direction.

So that the retaining straps are not overstretched during opening of the screw cap, i.e. the tensile stress remains in the elastic range, various parameters such as the length of the retaining straps and the length (circumferential extent of the separating web) and the cross section of the retaining straps must be adapted. The plastic material used must also be sufficiently elastic. Suitable ranges for these parameters are disclosed, inter alia, in the dependent claims. The exact, optimized parameter values vary with the specific closure dimensions and the thread height and also depend on the dimensions of a bottle neck and its pilferproof ring for which the closure is intended. The adaptation of the aforementioned closure parameters to a specific bottle neck within the scope of the claims and the However, within the framework disclosed in the present description and in such a way that the retaining straps are not overstretched when opened, is a routine task of a fastener manufacturer.

The ends of the upper separating web, which, viewed in the circumferential direction, are connected by the two retaining straps to the ends of the lower separating web, therefore essentially occupy the same axial area as in the closed state and are simply folded over and the retaining straps twisted accordingly. The projection is located slightly above the axial level of the locking elements, as it engages behind the pilferproof ring, while the guarantee strip with the locking elements drops slightly after the tear lines have been separated. The elongation and tension in the straps in the twisted state is less in this position than with an additional axial displacement of the separators relative to one another.

The axial position of the two separators in the same axial area causes a minimal stretch of the straps in the folded position, while folding back the screw cap from this position in the direction of the closed position causes an axial lifting of the ends of the upper separator, which causes an expansion in the Retaining straps, albeit slightly, would enlarge. The folded position is therefore stable.

According to one embodiment, the lower surface of the projection is at a distance from the free lower edge of the separating web which is less than 50%, preferably less than 30% of the axial height of the separating web.

Therefore, the wide open position is also stabilized in that the projection, more precisely its lower surface, which engages with the lower flank of the pilferproof ring, is closer to the lower edge of the separating web than to its upper edge, which is connected to the jacket of the Screw cap is rigidly connected. As a result, the pivot axis, which is formed by the contact point between the separator and pilferproof ring, is close to the lower edge of the separator, while the tensile force of the retaining straps is distributed over the height of the separator and is thus predominantly below the pivot axis in the folded-over state, so that a Torque acts in the direction of the open position. The lower surface of the projection extends in a plane at an angle of at least 70 °, preferably about 90 °, relative to the outer (teilzylindri rule) surface of the separating web

The straps can be in one embodiment in the circumferential direction, for example over a Win angle range of less than 90 °, preferably less than 80 °, z. B. extend over only 70 ° or 60 °. For the functionality described, it is also advantageous if the axial length of the screw cap thread, more precisely that part of the screw cap thread which actually engages with a container neck thread, is at most 6 mm, because less long retaining straps are then required. As already mentioned, the retaining straps start with one of their ends in the circumferential direction at each end of the upper separating web and are connected at their other end in the circumferential direction to one of the ends of the lower separating web, which is part of the circumferential, stationary on the container neck tamper evident band forms. Shorter straps allow a greater length of the lower separator, which makes the guarantee strap more stable.

If the dividing webs and retaining straps are formed by tear lines which run in parallel planes which are aligned perpendicular to the axis of the closure and which have a fixed axial distance, the axial height of the dividing web of the upper tear line is defined by the distance between the lower edge of the cap shell outside this separating web and the (intact) lower tear line at the ends of the separating web. The upper separating web has exactly the same axial height as the lower separating web, since it is separated along the lower tear line, while the upper tear line interrupted at the upper separating web defines the transition to the cap shell.

The width of the retaining straps measured in the axial direction is accordingly equal to the axial height of the two separating webs.

The width of these retaining straps and, more generally speaking, their cross section contribute in particular to the restoring force that results from the twisting of the retaining straps. However, the tensile forces that act in the circumferential direction of the retaining straps can also be dependent on the cross-sectional shape of the retaining straps. According to a variant of the invention, this cross section of the retaining straps is between 2 x 0.5 mm ² and 3 x 0.8 mm ² , the larger number defining the width to be measured in the axial direction and the smaller number defining the radial thickness of the retaining straps .

One embodiment of the invention is characterized by a radial thickness of the retaining straps which is greater in its upper area adjoining the upper tear line or the edge of the cap jacket than in the area adjoining the lower tear line. This leads to the fact that the radially thicker area of the retaining straps opposes a somewhat greater resistance to stretching by folding over and twisting than in the cross-sectional area adjoining the lower line of weakness. In the folded-over state of the screw cap with the twisted retaining straps, the radially thicker area of the retaining straps is accordingly attached to the upper separating web near the edge of the cap shell, while the slightly weaker section of the retaining straps with a smaller wall thickness starts near the free axial end of the upper separating web. As a result, this causes a torque on the screw cap, which tends to move the screw cap further into the folded, open position or keep it stable in this position, the different thicknesses of the retaining straps on their upper and lower edges making this torque even more pronounced. In a further embodiment, the upper separating web can have a recess on its lower edge, as is shown and described, for example, in DE 10 2018 128 886. The lower edge of the upper separating web, which rests against the bottle neck mainly in its central area when the screw cap is folded down, is then designed to be axially recessed. If, for example, the central area of the edge has the recess or is designed to be set back, while the axial height of the separating web can be maintained near the ends of the separating web, it may be easier to place the separating web with the recessed edge formed in the recess under the To move the pilferproof ring and hook it there. In the case of such a recess, a projection could be provided directly at the level of such an edge of the recess.

The invention also relates to a combination of a container and one of the closure variants described here, the container having a container neck with an external thread which fits the internal thread of the screw cap and the lower free surface of the projection on the upper separating web after unscrewing and folding the Screw cap is immediately below a pilferproof ring of the container neck and is in engagement with the lower flank. This lower flank of the pilferproof ring extends preferably vertically, but at least at an angle> 70 degrees to the axis of the container neck

The projection can be locked with its lower surface (which is on top after folding down the screw cap) under the pilferproof ring. For this purpose, it is useful if, when the guarantee band is designed as a flex band, the radial thickness of the inner section of a flex band that engages the lower radial flank of the pilfer proof ring is less than the radial protrusion of the pilfer proof ring over the bottle neck in this area. In this case, the lower surface of the projection can, in addition to the inner section of the flex tape, snap into place on the lower flank of the pilferproof ring.

An alternative embodiment which enables the lower edge of the separating web to latch under the pilferproof ring would be an interruption of the inner section of a corresponding flex strip in the circumferential direction and over the length of the separating web.

According to a possible combination of a container neck with a closure, as defined in claims 1 to 10, the relative axial position of the projection between the locking elements and the upper edge of the tamper-evident band is less critical and it is particularly important that the separating web on the The screw cap can snap into place under the pilferproof ring without the position relative to the upper edge of the guarantee strip playing a role. Typically, however, the distance between the bottom of a pilfer proof ring and the top of a support ring on the bottle neck is somewhat larger than the distance between the lower edge of the tamper-evident band and the engagement surface of the locking elements of the guarantee band, which comes into contact with the underside of the pilferproof ring when the closure is opened.

The space between the underside of the pilferproof ring and the upper side of a support ring located underneath it on the bottle neck usually accommodates the guarantee band of the closure with little play. The small play is to ensure that the guarantee band cannot be detached without visible damage to the guarantee band or the tear lines. If, however, the closure is applied to a corresponding container neck, the lower edge of the guarantee band must not touch the support ring before the locking elements have passed the outside of the pilferproof ring and engage under the pilferproof ring.

In order to ensure such a locking, a corresponding play of the locking elements is provided underneath the underside of the pilferproof ring, which was defined by the aforementioned difference in the distances between pilferproof ring and support ring compared to the distance between the lower edge of the guarantee strip and the engagement surface of the locking element. As a result, the tamper-evident band can slip off the bottle neck after the partial separation from the screw cap and be supported on the support ring below the pilferproof ring, so that the space immediately below the pilferproof ring for engagement by the projection of the separating web from the locking elements is definitely free is given.

This also means that when the closure is opened by turning the screw cap, it can initially be rotated freely through a certain angle until the locking elements engage with the underside of the pilferproof ring, so that the tear lines between the screw cap only appear when the screw cap continues to rotate , the dividers and the retaining straps.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the guarantee strip is a flex strip, the inner section of which has a radial thickness that is smaller than the radial protrusion of the lower flank of the pilferproof ring over the outer diameter of the bottle neck. This ensures that locking elements lying relatively just below the pilferproof ring do not hinder the engagement of the projection below the pilferproof ring.

According to a further variant, the guarantee strip can be designed as a flexible strip, in which the inner section of the flexible strip is interrupted in the circumferential direction over the length of the upper separating web. This, too, ensures that the projection engages when Due to the dimensions of the pilferproof ring, the locking elements would block the space below the pilferproof ring in such a way that the projection according to the invention would not be able to intervene.

As already mentioned, the distance between the underside of a pilferproof ring and the top of a support ring on the bottle neck is greater than the distance between the lower edge of the guarantee band and the engagement surface of the locking elements of the guarantee band. This ensures that the closure is securely applied to a container neck.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the associated figures. Show it:

Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective external view of an inventive

Screw cap,

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the screw cap according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a development of the cylindrical extension of the screw cap of

Figures 1 and 2 in one plane,

Figures 4a-c schematically the opening process in a closure according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an opened closure attached to a container neck,

FIG. 6 is a partially perspective and partially sectioned side view of the

Closure from Figure 5,

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the closure according to FIGS. 5 and 6 and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the closure according to FIG. 5, partly in section.

According to the perspective view in Figure 1, the closure according to the invention consists of a screw cap 10 with a cylindrical extension, the screw cap 10 consists essentially of a cap shell 2 and a head plate 1, which closes the cylindrical cap penmantel 2 at the top. At the lower end of the cap shell 2, the cylindri cal extension starts, of which a stationary part forms a tamper-evident band 3, which cannot be completely separated from the screw cap 10 in the closure according to the invention and remains stationary on the container neck 20. Usual screw caps with a tamper-evident band have only a single tear line which, unlike the tear lines 13 and 14 shown here, runs without interruption along the entire circumference of the screw cap 10 and represents the dividing line between the screw cap 10 and the tamper-evident band 3.

A tear line can generally be a circumferential, uniform material weakening, which can be produced, for example, during injection molding through a small wall thickness or through an incision that does not completely penetrate the material of the guarantee strip 3 or the transition to the cap shell 2, or it can be an incision running in the circumferential direction, the wall thickness of the guarantee strip 3 completely penetrating incision, but which is interrupted at individual points by easily breakable bridges.

The present invention differs from this usual form of screw caps with a tamper-evident band, among other things, in that it has two tear lines 13, 14, which on the one hand are spaced apart in the axial direction and on the other hand do not extend over the entire circumference of the tamper-evident band, but through an upper separating web 11 of the upper tear line 13 and a lower separating web 12 of the lower tear line 14 are interrupted.

In FIG. 2, a side view of the closure from FIG. 1 can be seen and FIG. 3 shows a development of the cylindrical extension over 360 °, ie. H. the ends of the cylindrical extension, shown on the right and left at 0 ° and 360 °, abut one another and hang together, so that the cylindrical extension has an overall ring shape. The development view divides the separating web 12 into two parts, although it is actually a single, contiguous separating web 12. The representation in the figures is primarily of a schematic nature, even if the specific lengths and arrangements of the tear lines are essentially reproduced realistically.

The cylindrical extension consists of the guarantee band 3 as well as the retaining bands 15, 16 and the upper separating web 11, which are not part of the guarantee band 3.

In the present case, the guarantee band 3 is a so-called flex band with an outer section 3a visible in the figures and an inner section 3b, that is, folded inwards and upwards, which engages with the lower flank of a pilferproof ring on a container neck, around the guarantee band 3 to hold on to this. The lower separating web 12 effectively forms part of the outer tamper-evident band section 3a. At the same time, it also defines an upper edge 12k of the guarantee strip. The tear lines 13, 14 are of different lengths, but are arranged in such a way that they overlap the separating web 11 or 12 of the respective other tear line. It is useful here if the center points of the separating webs 1 1, 12 are diametrically opposite one another, as in the present case at 0 ° and 180 ° in FIG.

If, after opening or unscrewing the screw cap from a bottle neck, the weak connection that initially still exists along the tear lines 13, 14 is completely severed, the retaining straps 15, 16 formed in the overlap area of the two tear lines form an essentially tear-resistant connection between the separating webs 11 12. The separating web 11 is connected to the lower edge of the screw cap and the separating web 12 is firmly connected to the part of the guarantee strip 3 that remains in its original position and is located below the tear line 14. This prevents the screw cap from being removed or torn off a container neck.

The parts 3a, 3b of the tamper-evident band 3 remaining below the tear line 14 together with the separating web 12 together form a completely circumferential tamper-evident band on the neck of the container that is in engagement with the bottle neck. The separating webs 12 and 11 are each connected to one another by the remaining retaining straps 15, 16, which are produced by the overlapping sections of the two tear lines 13, 14. Since the upper separating web is a limited axial extension of the cap shell and is firmly connected to it, the screw cap 10 is effectively connected to the lower section of the guarantee band and thus to the container or bottle neck via the retaining straps 15, 16 and therefore cannot be lost.

“Captive” in this context means that the screw cap could possibly be torn off the container neck by applying greater forces than are applied in everyday use by an average user when using packaging bottles.

In FIG. 4A, a closure arranged on a bottle neck can be seen in a partially unscrewed state. The connection between the screw cap 10 and the guarantee strip 3 is separated along the two tear lines 13, 14. However, since both tear lines are interrupted and axially offset from one another at least in their overlapping area, a movable connection between screw cap 10 and guarantee strip 3 remains via the retaining straps 15, 16 generated between the overlapping tear lines. It is therefore understood that when the closure or the screw cap 10 is loosened by a rotary movement in the opening direction with the cap shell 2, the guarantee strip 3 also rotates about the closure axis 50, which is carried along by the retaining straps 15, 16 in the circumferential direction.

Due to the thread pitch, the cap shell moves axially upwards, while the guarantee strip 3 is held on a so-called pilferproof ring 21, which is only shown in the figures is hinted at. In Figure 4A, however, the separating webs 11 and 12 and one of the retaining straps 15 extending between them can be seen, while the areas of the previous tear lines 13, 14 are otherwise widened to a large axial distance, this distance depending on the height of the thread engagement and in Figure 4A is shown emphasized large.

As soon as the screw cap according to FIG. 4A has been unscrewed sufficiently far from the thread of the bottle neck, the screw cap can be removed or tilted away to the side, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. The tilt or flip angle is defined as the angle between the axis 50 of the container neck and the axis 50 ‘of the cylindrical internal thread of the cap penmantels 2, which coincide in the closed state of the closure on the bottle neck. In the case of the open closure according to FIG. 4C, the axis 50 ', starting from the closed position, has been pivoted by approx. 150 ° with respect to the axis 50 (position approximately as in FIG. 5).

Due to the connection with the cap shell, the separating web 11 represents a relatively stable, axial extension of the cap casing 2. By pivoting the screw cap according to FIGS. 4B, 4C, 5, 6, and 7, this separating web 11 is also in the form of a tab-like Extension of the cap shell 2 pivoted or folded over together with this.

In the enlarged representation according to FIG. 5, the projection 11e can be seen, which distinguishes the closure according to the invention from other captive closures and which was not yet recognizable in the representations of FIGS. 1 to 4 because of the rough scale. This radial projection 11e on the outside of the upper separating web 11 extends radially outward at a distance from the lower edge 11a of the separating web 11.

As can be seen in FIG. 5 and especially in FIGS. 6 to 8, the projection 11e engages behind the pilferproof ring 23 of a bottle neck 20 from its underside.

When the screw cap has been pivoted according to FIG. 4C, it can be pressed downwards, the projection 11e sliding downward on the outer surface of the container neck, in particular the upper flank of the pilferproof ring, is moved over the outer edge of the pilferproof ring 23 and snaps then below the pilferproof ring, the section 11d of the separating web, which extends between the projection 11e and the lower edge 11a of the partition, rests against the radially outer circumferential surface of the pilferproof ring.

The screw cap 10 could, however, if its axis 50 'is approximately perpendicular to the axis 50 of the container and the tamper-evident band, with the lower edge 11 a of the Trennste tot 1 on the outside of the bottle neck 20 are pushed down. The edge 11 a then slides down on the upper flank of the pilferproof ring 23 to the outer edge of the pilferproof ring and the cap can then be tilted even further, so that the lower surface of the projection 11 e, which is then on top, snaps into place under the pilferproof ring 23 when the screw cap is further folded over, while the section of the separating web 1 1 between the lower edge 11 a and the underside of the projection 11 e to the circumferential surface of the Pilferproofringes 23 applies.

The resulting position and arrangement of the screw cap can be seen even more clearly in the side view according to FIG. 6.

To simplify the manufacturing process, the radially outwardly directed projection 1 1 e, which fulfills its function to stabilize the open position of the screw cap only in the area of the separating web 11, optionally extend around the entire circumference of the cylindrical extension, ie also over the retaining straps and the lower separating web 12 away, even if it no longer has any special function in this area, apart from a possibly stabilizing effect on the guarantee strip.

According to FIG. 6, the inner latching elements 3b of the flex tape 3 do not extend all the way to the underside of the pilferproof ring 23.

Overall, the straps and separator are roughly in the same axial area in which they were also when the lock was closed, ie the separator 11 is only slightly displaced in the axial direction compared to the separator 12, whereby the elongation of the straps 15, 16 in the Becomes minimal compared to other axial positions.

In FIG. 7, in an enlarged representation compared to FIG. 6, the engagement of the protrusion 11e with the pilferproof ring 23 can be seen in a section containing the axis of the closure. The lower portion 11 d of the upper separating web 11, which extends between the lower edge 1 1 a of the separating web 1 1 and the lower surface of the projection 11 e, forms together with the projection 11 e a kind of fold in which the lower outer edge of the pilfer proof ring is included.

Appropriately, the lower surface of the projection 11e extends approximately perpendicular to the axis 50 ‘of the screw cap 10, while the lower surface of the Pilferproofrin ges also extends approximately perpendicular, at least at an angle of 70 °, relative to the axis 50 of the bottle neck. The relatively large angle between the surfaces and axes mentioned prevents, among other things, the surfaces from slipping from one another.

The retaining straps 15, 16 exert a certain tensile stress on the ends of the separating web 11, the separating web 11, as already mentioned, rests with its lower section 11 d on the outside of the pilferproof ring and thus effectively a tangential to the Separating web 11 and in the fold area of the section 11 d and the projection 11e ver forms a running axis. Since the tensile force exerted by the retaining straps 15, 16 according to FIGS. 5 - 8 mainly applies below this pivot axis, the retaining straps 15, 16 effectively pull the closure cap 10 into the illustrated open position, which can only be achieved by the cap shell 2 striking against a support ring 25 of the Bottleneck is limited.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Closure, consisting of a screw cap (10) and a cylindrical extension (9) which comprises a tamper-evident band (3) which can be locked onto a container neck via locking elements, the screw cap (10) having at least one cylindrical cap shell (2) Has internal thread (4), the cylindrical extension (9) is partially connected along easily tearable tear lines (13, 14) to the lower edge of the cap shell (2), and the guarantee band (3) after tearing along the tear lines via retaining straps ( 15, 16) remains inextricably connected to the cap shell (2), characterized in that the retaining straps (15, 16) are formed by two tear lines (13, 14) of the cylindrical extension interrupted in the circumferential direction by at least one separating web, which at least there , where they partially overlap one another in the circumferential direction, run at an axial distance from one another, and the alternately the separating web (1 1, 12) of the other tear line (14, circumferential) in Bridge the circumferential direction, whereby the upper separating web (1 1) which interrupts the upper tear line (13) forms a permanent axial extension of the cap shell (2), which on its outside at a distance from its free lower edge has a radially outwardly pointing projection (1 1 e ), wherein the projection (1 1 e) after unscrewing the screw cap, the associated tearing of the weakening lines (13, 14) and after folding the screw cap about a pivot axis which is parallel to a tangent to the lower edge (1 1 a) of the separating web (1 1) runs, one, based on the axis of the guarantee strip, assumes an axial position with respect to the axis of the guarantee strip, which is a distance of at least 0.1 to 0.8 mm above the locking elements.

2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection has a lower surface which forms an angle of more than 70 ° with the closure axis, the lower surface of the projection being designed for engaging behind a pilferproof ring from below, while a partially cylindrical Section of the separating web (1 1) is designed for the system on the periphery of a pilfer proof ring

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the length of the retaining straps (15, 16) is dimensioned so that they after unscrewing the screw cap, the associated tearing of the lines of weakness (13, 14) and after folding the Screw cap around an axis running through the upper separating web (1 1) parallel to a tangent to the separating web (1 1) hold the screw cap in a position folded over by more than 100 °, the retaining straps (15, 16) and the separating web predominantly inside their axial area of the cylindrical extension (9) stressed before the tear of the weakening lines (13, 14).

4. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining straps (15, 16) each extend in the circumferential direction over an angular range of less than 90 °, preferably less than 80 °, in particular less than 70 °.

5. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper separating web (1 1) extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range of less than 60 °, preferably less than 50 °, in particular less than 40 °.

6. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the retaining straps is dimensioned so that when the separating web (1 1) folded over with the screw cap is moved away over the upper flank (24) and the outer edge of a pilferproof ring (23), there is a longitudinal expansion the retaining straps remain in the elastic area, so that the lower surface (1 1 c) of the projection (1 1 e) on the separating web (1 1) is locked by the pull of the retaining straps under the pilferproof ring.

7. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial length of the screw cap thread is at most 5 mm.

8. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining straps (15, 16) attach with one of their ends in the circumferential direction at one end of the upper separating web (1 1) and with their other end in the circumferential direction with one end each lower separating web (12) are connected, which forms part of the circumferential guarantee strip (3).

9. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the retaining straps (15,16) between 2 x 0.5 mm ² and 3 x 0.8 mm ² , the larger number being the axial width and the respective the smaller number defines the radial thickness of the retaining straps (15,16)

10. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radial thickness of the retaining straps (15, 16) is greater in their area adjoining the upper line of weakness (14) than in the area adjoining the lower line of weakness (13)

1 1. Combination of a container and a closure according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the container has a container neck (20) with a pilferproof ring (23) below an external thread which fits to the internal thread (4) of the screw cap (10) , characterized in that the retaining straps (15, 16) and the upper separating web (1 1) are dimensioned such that the lower surface of the projection (1 1 e) on the upper separating web (1 1) after unscrewing and folding over the screw cap ( 10) is in engagement with the lower flank (22) of the pilferproof ring (23) or the radially outer edge of this flank (22).

12. Combination according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the guarantee strip (3) is a flex strip, the inner portion (3b) of which has a radial thickness which is smaller than the radial projection of the lower flank (22) of the pilferproof ring over the outer diameter of the bottle neck (20).

13. Combination according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the guarantee strip (3) is designed as a flex strip (3a, 3b), characterized in that the inner portion of the flex strip (3b) in the circumferential direction over the length of the upper separating web (1 1) is interrupted away.

14. Combination according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the distance between the underside of a pilferproof ring (23) and the top of a support ring (25) on the bottle neck (20) is greater than the distance between the lower edge and the engagement surface of the locking elements of the tamper-evident band (3).